Ten families assembled at Island Meadow Campsite for the annual get together to pedal the area and sample the cakes. After a pretty cold night, we awoke to be joined by the Broad family and set of towards Warwick. Over the years we had cajoled Jacob and Oliver along but with age comes speed and they led the way as we arrived at Hatton Locks café. Through the lanes arriving at Packwood House and the heavens briefly opened as we dodged the rain in the café and various buildings around the site. Siobhan relived her memories as young adults and children hid about the enormous yew trees whilst Jo sought them out. Southwards back to the campsite passing under an aqueduct where the rain briefly fell before heading out for the evening courtesy of Aston Cantlow Labour Club.
Sunday arrived and so did the bacon buns. Served up in aid of a charity trip to Africa they fuelled us up for a westerly trip to Hillier Park. Heading east we passed through Bidford-on-Avon before cycling close to the bank of the Avon through Welford and onto the Greenway towards Stratford. We lunched within a stones throw of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage on the Western side of Stratford, after which it was back to the site.
The forecast wasn’t great for Monday, so a 20 mile round trip to Stratford was planned having dismantled the tents. Through Bidford and Welford we cycled heading back to the Greenway and lunch in an old railway carriage. The final stage followed Sustrans route 5 along the canal bank. Did we avoid the rain? Well some of the quicker ones did.